Client:Georgia Board of Regents

Project Status:In Progress

Project Overview:• Study to understand the utilization of all types of higher education space
• Develop statewide metrics to help inform planning process

UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF GEORGIA STATEWIDE SPACE UTILIZATION STUDY

University System of Georgia

TSW was selected to participate in a Statewide Space Utilization Study for the University System of Georgia. Given funding constraints for new construction, the Georgia Board of Regents decided to embark on a statewide study to understand the utilization of all types of higher education space. The goal of the study is to develop statewide metrics to help inform the planning process.

The complex nature of this study involved significant collaboration with the Board of Regents, other consultant teams, and campuses across the state. TSW’s involvement in the process included a number of elements:

Regular workshops with representatives from the Board of Regents, campuses, and other consultant teams working on the effort

Frequent interactions with other campuses and consultant teams to exchange information, discuss metrics, and improve the process

Discussions with the Board of Regents to improve accuracy, data collection, final metrics, and their results

TSW worked primarily on the following tasks directly for Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Albany State University, Bainbridge State College, Darton State College, and Georgia Southwestern State University.

Space audit and walk-through of each campus (buildings totaling approximately four million gross square feet) to determine current room use and other relevant factors

Update room use data based on walk-through and interactions with university staff

Edit and calibrate employee and course data for each of the five institutions to use in calculating office and teaching space utilization

Calculate detailed metrics for all types of space (classrooms, labs, offices, study spaces, meeting rooms, etc.) to determine utilization based on enrollment, hours of use, and other factors

Create summary presentations of the data for each campus and discuss with the president and other key leaders of each institution, including graphics and other tools to simplify the complexity of information compiled